Heavy Vehicle changeover fatality (6 July 2021)
A 52 year old truck driver was fatally injured on the Macleay Valley Way at Clybucca, in northern NSW. The location is commonly used as a changeover point for heavy vehicles travelling between Sydney and Brisbane.
On the night of the incident, several heavy vehicles were parked on the shoulder of both sides of the road. The worker, who was not wearing high visibility clothing at the time, was struck by an oncoming heavy vehicle. The heavy vehicle was driving in the middle of the road at the time of the incident.
Safety information
Consider ‘reasonably practicable’ control measures to manage the risks associated with heavy vehicle changeovers.
All transport operators should:
- conduct risk assessments of heavy vehicle changeover locations
- identify suitable control measures such as:
- safe locations for undertaking tasks that are related to heavy vehicle changeovers
- ensure the area has sufficient lighting when it’s dark
- provide training and instruction to workers on the hazards associated with work tasks and safe systems of work for heavy vehicle changeovers
- provide workers with personal protective equipment (PPE) and information, training and instruction for its proper use, wearing and storage
- have systems in place to monitor compliance with safe work procedures.
All drivers should:
- when coupling and uncoupling trailers, park the prime mover and trailer on a flat, level and hard surface in a safe location
- follow reasonable instruction, policy and procedures from the transport operator
- operate vehicles and conduct work tasks in accordance with Work Health Safety laws and the National Heavy Vehicle Law
- wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) required for the tasks to be undertaken.
Statistics
The transport industry is one of NSW’s highest risk industries. Common causes of serious injury or death in the transport, postal and warehousing industry are:
- working at heights
- hazardous manual tasks
- being hit by moving objects
- being trapped between stationary and moving objects.
More information
- National Heavy Vehicle Regulator - Master Code
- Transport for NSW - Heavy Vehicle Driver Handbook [PDF] (refer pages 82-87)
- SafeWork NSW - Safety Around Your Vehicle Glove Box Guide [PDF] (refer pages 12,14,16)
- SafeWork NSW - Transport Work Health and Safety Sector Plan [PDF]